ACCC’s Rooftop Solar Recommendation Misses the Mark

Wednesday, 11 July: The recommendation by the ACCC to abolish the small-scale renewable energy scheme (SRES) in 2021 should be rejected by the Turnbull Government because it is a slap in the face to consumers who want to slash their bills by going solar says community advocacy group Solar Citizens.

The ACCC Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry final report includes a recommendation to wind down and abolish the SRES by 2021.

“Slashing the small-scale renewable energy scheme is absolutely the wrong way to go if you want to save households money on their electricity bill,” said Shani Tager, Senior Campaigner at Solar Citizens.

“Already 1.8 million Australian households and businesses have put solar on their rooftops because it’s the best way to guarantee savings on your electricity bill.

“Energy consumers are tired of being taken for a ride by electricity retailers, which is why Australians are installing solar at record rates so that they can take the power back into their own hands.

“Abolishing the small-scale renewable energy scheme will just make it harder for everyone else who wants to be a part of the rooftop revolution and the Turnbull Government must rule out changes to the scheme.”

It’s not just solar households who save with rooftop solar. A report commissioned by Solar Citizens found that in just one year NSW solar owners saved all of the state’s energy consumers a total of $2.2-3.3 billion.

“We know that solar saves everyone money, so why would the Turnbull Government accept a dud recommendation that would make it harder for people to take back control of their power bills?” said Ms Tager.

“The small-scale renewable energy scheme has provided crucial support to households in lowering the upfront cost of investment in rooftop solar.

“We need programs to make it easier for more households and business to go solar rather than recommendations like this one which will make it harder.”

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More information about the SRES available here. Media contact: Stephanie Gray 0425543006